Reverse polarity switch



Oct. 1, 1957 w. 'r. BRENNAN 2,808,481

- REVERSE POLARI'IY SWITCH Filed June 15, 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet l 54 IN VEN TOR.

BY M MW,

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United States Patent REVERSE POLARITY SWITCH William Thomas Brennan, Dunmore, Pa.

Application June 15, 1954, Serial No. 436,961 Claims. (Cl. zoo-61.58

This invention relates to a switching mechanism and has for its primary object the provision of means for reversing thepolarity of a direct current supply to an electric motor or the like in a convenient and simple manner.

The construction of this invention features a flashlightlike casing containing batteries forming the source of direct current therein. Switch means are mounted in the casing and include a terminal side having criss-crossed sets of contacts which are engaged by resilient contacts mounted on a terminal plate in a manner whereby the polarity of the current supplied to the motor or other load device can be reversed, utilizing sliding action of the slide with respect to the resilient contacts.

Still further objects and features of this invention reside in the provision of a reverse polarity switch that is strong and durable, simple in construction and manufacture, having relatively few moving parts so as to be substantially fool-proof in operation, and which is inexpensive to manufacture, thereby enabling wide distribution and utilization.

These, together with the various ancillary objects and features of the invention which will become apparent as the following description proceeds, are attained by this reverse polarity switch, a preferred embodiment of which has been illustrated in the accompanying drawings, by way of example only, wherein:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the invention;

Figure 2 is an enlarged longitudinal sectional view of the reverse polarity switch;

Figure 3 is a vertical sectional view as taken along the plane of line 33 in Figure 2, illustrating the construction of the terminal plate and resilient contacts;

Figure 4 is a vertical sectional view as taken along the plane of line 44 in Figure 2, illustrating the construction of the slide;

Figure 5 is a horizontal sectional view as taken along the plane of line 55 in Figure 2, illustrating the terminal slide in an extended position;

Figure 6 is a sectional view, similar to that of Figure 5, but showing the terminal slide in a different position for reversing the polarity of the current from that as supplied by the arrangement shown in Figure 5; and

Figure 7 is an exploded perspective view of varlous elements of this reverse polarity switch.

With continuing reference to the accompanying drawings wherein like reference numerals designate similar parts throughout the various views, reference numeral 10 generally designates the reverse polarity switch comprising the present invention. This device includes an outer casing 12 generally of the configuration similar to that of a conventional flashlight and has a threaded cap 14 at the rear end thereof.

Integrally cast with the casing 12 is a stop 16 against which a terminal plate 18 bears, the terminal plate 18 being formed of a suitable electrically insulative material.

The casing 12 has a slot 20 therein and also has slidably mounted therein a slide 22 having a projecting portion 24 to which a handle 26 is attached by means of a fastener 28, the handle extending inwardly of the slot 20 and enabling 2,808,481 Patented Oct. 1, 1957 the slide 22 to be moved upon actuation thereof. The slide includes mounting rings, as at 30 and 32, within which batteries 34 and 36 of the flashlight type are positioned. A coil spring 38 resiliently yieldingly engages the cap 14 and the battery 36 to urge the batteries into engagement with a fixed terminal 40 on the terminal plate 18.

Mounted on the terminal plate '18 by means of rivets, as at 42 and 44, are a pair of resilient contacts 46 and 48 which have arcuate spring sections 50 and 52 having their ends underlying a terminal slide 54 of electrically insulative material. The slide 54 extends through a recess 56 in the terminal plate 18 and is secured to the slide 22.

Connected to the resilient contacts 46 and 48 are conductors 56 and 58 which are connected to the load device.

The slide 54 is provided with a series of apertures 60 therethrough for reception of rivets which hold an electrically conductive strip 62 to the terminal slide 54 and for reception of rivets 64 and 66 which hold a conductor 68 which is insulated from the strip 62 to the slide 64 while also holding a conductor 70 to the slide 54, the conductor 70 being connected to the terminal 40.

Other rivets 72, 74 and 76 hold the contact strip 62 on the terminal slide 54 and further form contacts which are engaged by the resilient contacts 46 and 48. It is noted that the conductor 68 criss-crosses over the strip 62 so that the cont-act 64 is engageable by the resilient contact 46 while the contact formed by the rivet 66 is engageable by the resilient contact 52. Likewise, the resilient contacts 46 and 48 engage the rivets 74 and 72, respectively. The rivet 76 grounds the contact strip 62 and hence the rivets 72 and 74 to the slide 22 and thus to the batteries 34 and 36.

The operation of this device is quite simple. Utilizing the handle 26, the slide 22 and hence the terminal slide 54 can be slid outwardly to the position as is shown in Figure 5. In this position, the resilient contact 46 will engage the rivet 74 which is the grounded side of the circuit while the contact 48 will engage the rivet 66 which is connected through conductor 70 to the positive side of the circuit. Thus, conductors 56 and 58 which are connected to the resilient contacts 46 and 48 will carry current of the polarity determined by the position of the slide 54. However, should the terminal slide 54 be moved inwardly, the resilient contacts 46 and 48 will engage the rivets 64 and 72, respectively, thus connecting the resilient contacts and hence the lead 56 to the positive side of the circuit while connecting the resilient contact 48 and the lead 58 to the negative side of the circuit, thus reversing polarity of the power supplied.

From the foregoing, the construction and operation of the device will be readily understood and further explanation is believed to be unnecessary. However, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. A reverse polarity switch comprising a casing, a slide slidably mounted in said casing, said slide extending substantially the length of said casing and being adapted to slidably carry batteries, a terminal plate in said casing, a fixed terminal, a pair of resilient contacts carried by said terminal plate, a terminal slide of insulative material car ried by said slide, said terminal slide having a first set of contacts grounded to said casing and adapted to be engaged by one of said resilient contacts, and a second set of contacts on said terminal slide electrically connected to said fixed terminal adapted to be engaged by the other of said resilient contacts.

2. A reverse polarity switch comprising a casing, a slide slidably mounted in said casing, a terminal plate in said casing, a fixed terminal, a pair of resilient contacts carried by said terminal plate, a terminal slide of insulative material carried by said slide, said terminal slide having a first set of contacts grounded to said casing and adapted to be engaged by one of said resilientcontacts, and a second set of contacts on said terminal slide electrically connected to said fixed terminal adapted to be engaged by the other of said resilient contacts, said sets of contacts being arranged in a criss-cross manner so that upon actuation of said slide, each of said resilient contacts will suecessively engage one of said first set of contacts and one of said second set of contacts.

3. A reverse polarity switch comprising a casing, a slide slidably mounted in said casing, a terminal plate in said casing, a fixed terminal, a pair of resilient contacts carried by said terminal plate, a terminal slide of insulative ma terial carried by said slide, said terminal slide having a first set of contacts grounded to said casing and adapted to be engaged by one of said resilient contacts, and a second set of contacts on said terminal slide electrically connected to said fixed terminal adapted to be engaged by the other of said resilient contacts, a conductive strip, rivets securing said conductive strip to said terminal slide, said rivets forming said first set of contacts.

4-. A reverse polarity switch comprising a casing, a slide a slide slidably mounted in said casing, said slide extending substantially the length of said casing and being adapted to slidably carry batteries, a terminal plate in said casing, a fixed terminal, a pair of resilient contacts carried by said terminal plate, a terminal slide of insulative material carried by said slide, said terminal slide having a first set of contacts grounded to said casing and adapted to be engaged by one of said resilient contacts, and a second set of contacts on said terminal slide electrically connected to said fixed terminal adapted to be engaged by the other of said resilient contacts, a conductive strip, rivets securing said conductive strip to said terminal slide, said rivets forming said first set of contacts, an insulative conductor overlying said conductive strip, other rivets fastening said conductor to said terminal slide, said other rivets forming said second set of contacts, said sets of contacts being arranged in a criss-cross manner so that upon actuation of said slide, each of said resilient contacts Will successively engage one of said first set of contacts and one of said second set of contacts,

5. A reverse polarity switch comprising a casing, a slide slidably mounted in said casing, batteries grounded to said casing slidably mounted on said slide, a terminal plate in said casing, resilient means urging said batteries against said terminal plate to engage a fixed terminal, a pair of resilient contacts carried by said terminal plate, a terminal slide of insulative material carried by said slide, said terminal slide having a first set of contacts grounded to said casing and adapted to be engaged by one of said resilient contacts, and a second set of contacts on said terminal slide electrically connected to said fixed terminal adapted to be engaged by the other of said resilient contacts, a conductive strip, rivets securing said conductive strip to said terminal slide, said rivets forming said first set of contacts, an insulative conductor overlying said conductive strip, other rivets fastening said conductor to said terminal slide, said other rivets forming said second set of contacts, said resilient contacts being attached to said terminal plate above said terminal slide, said resilient contacts having end portions underlying said terminal slide to engage said first and second sets of contacts, said sets of contacts being arranged in a criss-cross manner so that upon actuation of said slide, each of said resilient contacts will successively engage one of said first set of contacts and one of said second set of contacts.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,187,586 White June 20, 1916 1,256,065 Sheinavs Feb. 12, 1918 2,488,464 Arpin Nov. 15, 1949 2,564,612 Schnieder Aug. 14, 1951 2,688,821 Bunting Sept. 14, 1954 

